Outdoor device and refrigeration cycle device

ABSTRACT

An outdoor device is provided which has: a heat exchanger including a heat exchange portion having multiple heat transfer pipes and multiple heat transfer fins joined to the heat transfer pipes, and a pair of header pipe assemblies arranged substantially in parallel along the upper-to-lower direction to face each other and configured to bundle end portions of the heat transfer pipes extending from the heat exchange portion; and a housing configured to support the heat exchanger via a support bracket. The support bracket includes a heat exchange side holding portion, a housing side holding portion, and a fin contact portion provided integrally with the heat exchange side holding portion or the housing side holding portion and arranged in contact with or in proximity to an edge portion of the heat exchange portion adjacent to one of the header pipe assemblies.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a continuation application of PCT/JP2017/043255, filed on Dec. 1, 2017, which claims priority from Japanese Patent Application No. 2017-000022 filed with the Japan Patent Office on Jan. 4, 2017, the contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entireties.

BACKGROUND 1. Technical Field

The present disclosure relates to an outdoor device having a heat exchanger and a refrigeration cycle device.

2. Description of the Related Art

A heat exchanger in such a form that heat transfer pipes penetrate heat transfer fins stacked at a predetermined interval has been known as a heat exchanger forming a refrigeration cycle device such as an air conditioner.

The heat exchanger in this form tends to be configured such that a spacing between a header pipe assembly and the heat transfer fin is greater than a spacing (a fin pitch) between the heat transfer fin and the heat transfer fin at a heat exchange portion including the heat transfer pipes and the heat transfer fins. With a great spacing between the header pipe assembly and the heat transfer fin, air passes through a portion between the header pipe assembly and the heat transfer fin, other than the heat exchange portion.

For this reason, there is a problem that the volume of wind passing between the heat transfer fin and the heat transfer fin relatively decreases and performance as the heat exchanger is lowered.

Moreover, there is a problem that a corrosion factor such as a salt content adheres to the header pipe assembly or the heat transfer pipe between the header pipe assembly and the fin when air passes between the header pipe assembly and the heat transfer fin and the probability of occurrence of corrosion is increased.

In response to these problems, a seal member closes, in Japanese Patent No. 5403085, between a header pipe assembly and a heat transfer fin such that a housing member surrounding part of a heat exchanger is pressed, thereby blocking air flowing between the header pipe assembly and the heat transfer fin.

SUMMARY

An outdoor device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, includes a heat exchanger including a heat exchange portion having multiple heat transfer pipes as flat pipes formed in a substantially oval sectional shape, arranged along a horizontal direction, and arranged substantially in parallel at a predetermined interval in an upper-to-lower direction, and multiple heat transfer fins joined to the heat transfer pipes, and a pair of header pipe assemblies arranged substantially in parallel along the upper-to-lower direction to face each other and configured to bundle end portions of the heat transfer pipes extending from the heat exchange portion; and a housing configured to support the heat exchanger via a support bracket, wherein the support bracket includes a heat exchange side holding portion which is positioned at a portion of each heat transfer pipe connecting the heat exchange portion and the header pipe assemblies and through which each heat transfer pipe penetrates, a housing side holding portion extending along a longitudinal direction of each heat transfer pipe from an upstream side edge of the heat exchange side holding portion positioned on an upstream side in a flow of air passing through the heat exchanger and fixed to the housing, and a fin contact portion provided integrally with the heat exchange side holding portion or the housing side holding portion and arranged in contact with or in proximity to an edge portion of the heat exchange portion adjacent to one of the header pipe assemblies.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a refrigeration cycle system diagram in a refrigeration cycle device of the present disclosure;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the inside of an outdoor device forming the refrigeration cycle device;

FIG. 3A is a front view of one example of an outdoor heat exchanger forming the outdoor device;

FIG. 3B is a sectional view along an A-A line of FIG. 3A as one example of the outdoor heat exchanger forming the outdoor device;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the vicinity of a header pipe assembly in a first embodiment;

FIG. 5 is a front view of a support bracket of the first embodiment;

FIG. 6 is a plan view of a main portion of a fixing portion between the support bracket and a housing in the first embodiment;

FIG. 7 is a plan view of the vicinity of a header pipe assembly in a second embodiment;

FIG. 8 is a plan view of the vicinity of a header pipe assembly in a first aspect of the second embodiment;

FIG. 9 is a plan view of the vicinity of a header pipe assembly in a second aspect of the second embodiment;

FIG. 10 is a plan view of the vicinity of a header pipe assembly in a third embodiment;

FIG. 11 is a plan view of the vicinity of a header pipe assembly in a first aspect of the third embodiment; and

FIG. 12 is a plan view of the vicinity of a header pipe assembly in a second aspect of the third embodiment.

DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

In the following detailed description, for purpose of explanation, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the disclosed embodiments. It will be apparent, however, that one or more embodiments may be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well-known structures and devices are schematically shown in order to simplify the drawing.

In the refrigeration cycle device such as the air conditioner including the heat exchanger, the heat exchanger needs to be fixed to a housing member of the refrigeration cycle device. In an outdoor device described in Japanese Patent No. 5403085, a fixing member for the housing member is joined to the header pipe assembly.

However, such a fixing member is provided separately from the above-described seal member. This leads to problems that a manufacturing step is complicated and a manufacturing cost is increased due to an increase in the number of components.

The present disclosure has been made in view of description above, and is intended to provide an outdoor device configured so that both of suppression of the performance deterioration and the corrosion of a heat exchanger due to the airflow between a header pipe assembly and a fin, and fixing of the heat exchanger to a housing can be realized at low cost and a refrigeration cycle device.

For accomplishing the above-described object, the outdoor device and the refrigeration cycle device according to the present embodiment includes a heat exchanger including a heat exchange portion having multiple heat transfer pipes as flat pipes formed in a substantially oval sectional shape, arranged along a horizontal direction, and arranged substantially in parallel at a predetermined interval in an upper-to-lower direction and multiple heat transfer fins joined to the heat transfer pipes, and a pair of header pipe assemblies arranged substantially in parallel along the upper-to-lower direction to face each other and configured to bundle end portions of the heat transfer pipes extending from the heat exchange portion; and a housing configured to support the heat exchanger via a support bracket. The support bracket includes a heat exchange side holding portion which is positioned at a portion of each heat transfer pipe connecting the heat exchange portion and the header pipe assemblies and through which each heat transfer pipe penetrates, a housing side holding portion extending along a longitudinal direction of each heat transfer pipe from an upstream side edge of the heat exchange side holding portion positioned on an upstream side in the flow of air passing through the heat exchanger and fixed to the housing, and a fin contact portion provided integrally with the heat exchange side holding portion or the housing side holding portion and arranged in contact with or in proximity to an edge portion of the heat exchange portion adjacent to one of the header pipe assemblies.

According to the present embodiment, the outdoor device configured so that both of restriction of the flow of air between the header pipe assembly and the heat transfer fin and fixing of the heat exchanger to the housing can be realized at low cost and the refrigeration cycle device can be provided.

First Embodiment

An embodiment of the present disclosure will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. In description, the same reference numerals are used to represent the same elements, and overlapping description will be omitted.

<Configuration of Air Conditioner>

An air conditioner S as a refrigeration cycle device employing a fixed structure of a heat exchanger of the present disclosure is illustrated in FIG. 1.

The air conditioner S includes an outdoor device 1 and an indoor device 2.

The outdoor device 1 includes an accumulator 5, a compressor 6, a four-way valve 7, an outdoor heat exchanger 8, an outdoor expansion valve 9, and an outdoor air blower 10.

The indoor device 2 includes an indoor heat exchanger 12, an indoor air blower 13, and an indoor expansion valve 14.

Each type of equipment of the outdoor device 1 and each type of equipment of the indoor device 2 are connected to each other via a refrigerant pipe 3, thereby forming a refrigeration cycle. Refrigerant as a heat medium is enclosed in the refrigerant pipe 3, and circulates between the outdoor device 1 and the indoor device 2 through the refrigerant pipe 3.

Next, each type of equipment forming the outdoor device 1 will be described.

The accumulator 5 is provided to store liquid back in a transient period, and is configured to separate liquid refrigerant to be mixed with gas refrigerant supplied to the compressor 6 to adjust the refrigerant to a proper degree of dryness.

The compressor 6 is configured to compress and discharge sucked gaseous refrigerant (gas refrigerant).

The four-way valve 7 is configured to switch between a path of a solid line and a path of a dashed line to change a refrigerant flow between the outdoor device 1 and the indoor device 2 without changing a refrigerant flow direction to the compressor 6. Moreover, the four-way valve 7 is configured to change the refrigerant flow direction to switch between cooling operation and heating operation.

The outdoor heat exchanger 8 is, by a later-described support structure, supported on a housing 20 (see FIG. 2) of the outdoor device 1, and is configured to exchange heat between refrigerant and external air outside a room.

The outdoor expansion valve 9 is a throttle valve configured to adiabatically expand refrigerant (liquid refrigerant) in the form of liquid to vaporize the refrigerant.

The outdoor air blower 10 is configured to supply the external air to the outdoor heat exchanger 8.

Next, each type of equipment forming the indoor device 2 will be described.

The indoor heat exchanger 12 is configured to exchange heat between refrigerant and indoor air.

The indoor air blower 13 is configured to supply the indoor air to the indoor heat exchanger 12.

The indoor expansion valve 14 is a throttle valve configured to adiabatically expand refrigerant (liquid refrigerant) in the form of liquid to vaporize the refrigerant. Moreover, the indoor expansion valve 14 can change a throttle amount thereof to change the flow rate of refrigerant flowing in the indoor heat exchanger 12.

Moreover, as illustrated in FIG. 2, each type of equipment is arranged inside the outdoor device 1.

The housing 20 forming the outer shape of the outdoor device 1 includes a top plate (not shown), a bottom plate 21, and side plates 22 to 25. An internal space of the housing 20 is divided into a heat exchange chamber 31 and a machine chamber 32 by a partition plate 26. Moreover, the side plates include the machine chamber side front side plate 22, the machine chamber side back side plate 23, the heat exchange chamber side front side plate 24, and the heat exchange chamber side back side plate 25.

The heat exchange chamber 31 includes the heat exchange chamber side front side plate 24, the heat exchange chamber side back side plate 25, and the partition plate 26, and the outdoor heat exchanger 8 and the outdoor air blower 10 are arranged inside the heat exchange chamber 31.

Moreover, in the heat exchange chamber 31, suction ports 27, 28 for suction of air are each provided between the machine chamber side back side plate 23 and the heat exchange chamber side back side plate 25 and between the heat exchange chamber side front side plate 24 and the heat exchange chamber side back side plate 25. Further, at the heat exchange chamber side front side plate 24, an exhaust port 29 for discharging air subjected to heat exchange by the outdoor heat exchanger 8 through a front surface of the outdoor device is provided.

With this structure of the heat exchange chamber 31, air is sucked through the suction ports 27, 28 provided at back and side surfaces of the outdoor device 1. Then, the sucked air exchanges heat through the outdoor heat exchanger 8, and thereafter, is discharged to the outside of the outdoor device through the exhaust port 29 provided at the front surface of the outdoor device.

The machine chamber 32 includes the machine chamber side front side plate 22, the machine chamber side back side plate 23, and the partition plate 26. The accumulator 5, the compressor 6, and the like are arranged inside the machine chamber 32.

<Action of Air Conditioner>

Next, action of the air conditioner S when the cooling operation for supplying cold air to the inside of the room is performed will be described.

Solid arrows in FIG. 1 indicate a refrigerant flow in the cooling operation, and the four-way valve 7 is switched as indicated by solid lines.

Gas refrigerant compressed into a high-temperature high-pressure state in the compressor 6 flows into the outdoor heat exchanger 8 by way of the four-way valve 7.

The gas refrigerant having flowed into the outdoor heat exchanger 8 is condensed by releasing heat to the external air to be supplied by the outdoor air blower 10 while passing through the outdoor heat exchanger 8, and therefore, turns into low-temperature high-pressure liquid refrigerant.

The liquid refrigerant condensed from the gas refrigerant is sent to the indoor device 2 by way of the outdoor expansion valve 9. Note that at this point, the outdoor expansion valve 9 does not function as an expansion valve, and therefore, the refrigerant directly passes as the liquid refrigerant without adiabatic expansion.

The liquid refrigerant having flowed into the indoor device 2 is adiabatically expanded in the indoor expansion valve 14 while flowing into the indoor heat exchanger 12.

Upon adiabatic expansion, the liquid refrigerant takes evaporative latent heat from the indoor air supplied by the indoor air blower 13, and accordingly, is vaporized. Thus, the liquid refrigerant turns into low-temperature low-pressure gas refrigerant.

Then, the indoor air from which the evaporative latent heat has been taken is relatively cooled, and therefore, cold air is sent to the inside of the room.

The gas refrigerant vaporized from the liquid refrigerant is sent to the outdoor device 1.

The gas refrigerant having returned to the outdoor device 1 flows into the accumulator 5 through the four-way valve 7.

From the gas refrigerant having flowed into the accumulator 5, mixed liquid refrigerant is separated by the accumulator 5. Then, the resultant refrigerant is adjusted to a predetermined degree of dryness. The resultant refrigerant is supplied to the compressor 6, and then, is compressed again.

As described above, refrigerant circulates in the direction of the solid arrows in the refrigeration cycle, and therefore, the cooling operation for supplying cold air to the inside of the room is implemented.

Next, action of the air conditioner S when the heating operation for supplying warm air to the inside of the room will be described.

Dashed arrows in FIG. 1 indicate a refrigerant flow in the heating operation, and the four-way valve 7 is switched as indicated by dashed lines.

High-temperature high-pressure gas refrigerant compressed in the compressor 6 flows into the indoor device 2 by way of the four-way valve 7.

The gas refrigerant having flowed into the indoor heat exchanger 12 is condensed by releasing heat to the indoor air to be supplied by the indoor air blower 13 while passing through the indoor heat exchanger 12, and therefore, turns into low-temperature high-pressure liquid refrigerant.

Then, the indoor air having received the heat is relatively heated, and warm air is sent to the inside of the room.

The liquid refrigerant condensed from the gas refrigerant is sent to the outdoor device 1 through the indoor expansion valve 14. Note that at this point, the indoor expansion valve 14 does not function as the expansion valve, and therefore, the refrigerant directly passes as the liquid refrigerant without adiabatic expansion.

The liquid refrigerant having flowed into the outdoor device 1 is adiabatically expanded in the outdoor expansion valve 9 while flowing into the outdoor heat exchanger 8.

Upon adiabatic expansion, the liquid refrigerant takes evaporative latent heat from the external air supplied by the outdoor air blower 10, and accordingly, is vaporized. Thus, the liquid refrigerant turns into low-temperature low-pressure gas refrigerant.

The gas refrigerant vaporized from the liquid refrigerant and having flowed out of the outdoor heat exchanger 8 flows into the accumulator 5 through the four-way valve 7.

From the gas refrigerant having flowed into the accumulator 5, mixed liquid refrigerant is separated by the accumulator 5. Then, the resultant refrigerant is adjusted to a predetermined degree of dryness. The resultant refrigerant is supplied to the compressor 6, and then, is compressed again.

As described above, refrigerant circulates in the direction of the dashed arrows in the refrigeration cycle, and therefore, the heating operation for supplying warm air to the inside of the room is implemented.

Next, the above-described outdoor heat exchanger 8 will be described.

As illustrated in FIG. 3A, the outdoor heat exchanger 8 of the present embodiment includes a heat exchange portion 40 and header pipe assemblies 41.

The heat exchange portion 40 is a portion for exchange of heat between air and refrigerant, and includes multiple heat transfer fins 44 and multiple heat transfer pipes 43.

The heat transfer fin 44 includes a rectangular plate-shaped member. Moreover, the heat transfer fins 44 are stacked and arranged at a predetermined interval (about 1.5 mm) in the horizontal direction in a state in which a longitudinal direction of the plate-shaped member is along an upper-to-lower direction and plate surfaces face each other. Moreover, the outdoor air passes through a clearance between adjacent ones of the stacked heat transfer fins 44.

Note that the outdoor heat exchanger 8 illustrated in FIG. 2 is configured such that the heat exchange portion 40 is bent in a substantially L-shape. However, for the sake of easy understanding of the configuration, the outdoor heat exchanger 8 illustrated in FIG. 3A is illustrated as a heat exchanger including a flat plate-shaped heat exchange portion.

As illustrated in FIG. 3B, the heat transfer pipe 43 has a substantially oval flat pipe shape, and includes a tubular member divided into multiple flow paths therein along the longitudinal direction. Moreover, the heat transfer pipes 43 are arranged at a predetermined interval in the upper-to-lower direction in a state in which oval flat portions face the upper-to-lower direction and are along the horizontal direction. Further, the heat transfer pipe 43 is joined to each heat transfer fin 44 while penetrating each of the stacked heat transfer fins 44.

Moreover, the header pipe assemblies 41 communicate with both end portions of each heat transfer pipe 43.

As illustrated in FIG. 3A, the header pipe assemblies 41 include a collecting header 41 a and a turnaround header 41 b.

The collecting header 41 a is configured to bundle the heat transfer pipes 43 at end portions thereof and to distribute and collect refrigerant to the heat transfer pipes 43. Moreover, a gas pipe 45 as an outlet/inlet of gas refrigerant and a liquid pipe 46 as an outlet/inlet of liquid refrigerant are connected to the collecting header 41 a.

The turnaround header 41 b is configured to send refrigerant discharged from the heat transfer pipe 43 to another heat transfer pipe 43.

Note that a spacing between the header pipe assembly 41 and the adjacent heat transfer fin 44 is greater than a spacing between adjacent ones of the heat transfer fins 44, and is set to about 20 mm

Moreover, the heat transfer fins 44, the heat transfer pipes 43, and the header pipe assemblies 41 forming the outdoor heat exchanger 8 are made of the same aluminum alloy material, and are integrally joined to each other by brazing.

As illustrated in FIG. 2, the outdoor heat exchanger 8 having the above-described configuration is placed in the heat exchange chamber 31 of the housing 20 via support brackets 50.

As illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 4, the support bracket 50 is placed between the heat exchange portion 40 and the header pipe assembly 41.

Note that in FIG. 4, a state in which the support bracket 50 is arranged on a collecting header 41 a side is illustrated for the sake of convenience in description. However, as illustrated in FIG. 2, the support bracket 50 is also similarly arranged on a turnaround header 41 b side.

As illustrated in FIG. 4, the support bracket 50 is arranged between the header pipe assembly 41 and the heat transfer fin 44 positioned outermost in the stack and forming an edge portion 40 a of the heat exchange portion 40 adjacent to the header pipe assembly 41. That is, the support bracket 50 is arranged at portions of the heat transfer pipes 43 connecting between the heat exchange portion 40 and the header pipe assembly.

Moreover, as illustrated in FIGS. 4 to 6, the support bracket 50 includes a heat exchange side holding portion 51, a housing side holding portion 52, and a fin contact portion 55.

Note that the support bracket 50 of the present embodiment is, by pressing, formed in a substantially backwards C-shaped sectional shape from a flat plate-shaped member made of the same aluminum alloy material as that of the outdoor heat exchanger 8.

The heat exchange side holding portion 51 is a portion fixed to the outdoor heat exchanger 8, and is also a portion separating the heat exchange portion 40 and the machine chamber 32 to prevent air sucked into the outdoor device 1 from entering the machine chamber 32. At the heat exchange side holding portion 51 having a flat plate shape, the pipe holes 56 continuously open in the upper-to-lower direction to penetrate a plate surface. The number of pipe holes 56 is the same as the heat transfer pipes 43 and the pipe holes 56 have the same shapes as the heat transfer pipes 43 (see FIG. 5). Moreover, the heat exchange side holding portion 51 is arranged along the plate surface of the heat transfer fin 44 in a state in which the heat exchange side holding portion 51 is, with a spacing corresponding to about the spacing between adjacent ones of the heat transfer fins 44, close to the heat transfer fin 44 positioned outermost and forming the edge portion 40 a. Further, each heat transfer pipe 43 penetrates the pipe hole 56 of the heat exchange side holding portion 51 without any clearances.

Note that in the present embodiment, the pipe holes 56 of the heat exchange side holding portion 51 are fixed to the outer peripheries of the heat transfer pipes 43 by brazing.

Moreover, the dimensions of the heat exchange side holding portion 51 are set such that an upstream side edge thereof is coincident with tip ends of the heat transfer fins 44.

The housing side holding portion 52 is a portion fixed to the side plate forming the housing 20. The housing side holding portion 52 includes an upstream holding piece 53 and a downstream holding piece 54.

The upstream holding piece 53 has a flat plate shape, and extends from the upstream side edge of the heat exchange side holding portion 51 along a longitudinal direction of the heat transfer pipe 43.

The downstream holding piece 54 has a flat plate shape, and extends from a downstream side edge of the heat exchange side holding portion 51 along the longitudinal direction of the heat transfer pipe 43.

Note that the upstream and downstream side edges of the heat exchange side holding portion 51 indicate an edge positioned on an upstream side and an edge positioned on a downstream side when air passes through the heat exchange portion 40.

Moreover, in the present embodiment, the upstream holding piece 53 and the downstream holding piece 54 are both provided perpendicularly to the heat exchange side holding portion 51 as illustrated in FIG. 6, but are not limited to such a form. For example, the downstream holding piece 54 may extend along the partition plate 26, and the downstream holding piece 54 and the partition plate 26 may together form an air flow path. That is, the upstream holding piece 53 and the downstream holding piece 54 may be in various forms depending on, e.g., the shapes of the machine chamber side back side plate 23 and the partition plate 26 joined to the housing side holding portion 52.

The fin contact portion 55 is a portion configured to guide air sucked into the outdoor device 1 to pass through the heat exchange portion 40, other than a portion between the heat transfer fin 44 and the header pipe assembly 41.

The fin contact portion 55 is arranged in contact with or in proximity to the heat transfer fin 44 positioned outermost in the stack and forming the edge portion 40 a of the heat exchange portion 40 adjacent to the header pipe assembly 41. Note that in the present embodiment, the heat exchange side holding portion 51 also serves as the fin contact portion 55.

Thus, the support bracket 50 is configured such that the heat exchange side holding portion 51 is close to the heat transfer fin 44 to an extent corresponding to the spacing between adjacent ones of the heat transfer fins 44 and the housing side holding portion 52 extends from a heat transfer fin 44 side to a header pipe assembly 41 side. That is, the support bracket 50 is arranged such that the backwards C-shape thereof opens toward the header pipe assembly 41 side.

Moreover, as illustrated in FIG. 6, an insulating member 80 is interposed between the housing side holding portion 52 and each of the machine chamber side back side plate 23 and the partition plate 26. The insulating member 80 is made of a material exhibiting electric insulating properties, such as resin and rubber.

Next, features and advantageous effects of the configuration of the present embodiment will be described.

As described above, in the present embodiment, it is configured such that the support bracket 50 arranged between the heat exchange portion 40 and the header pipe assembly 41 is fixed to the housing 20. With this configuration, both of restriction of an air flow between the header pipe assembly 41 and the heat transfer fin 44 and fixing of the outdoor heat exchanger 8 to the housing 20 can be realized at low cost.

As a result, lowering of performance due to a wind volume decrease at the heat exchange portion 40 can be suppressed.

Moreover, corrosion due to adherence of a corrosion factor such as a salt content to the header pipe assembly 41 or the heat transfer pipe 43 between the header pipe assembly 41 and the heat transfer fin 44 when air passes through the portion between the header pipe assembly 41 and the heat transfer fin 44 can be suppressed, other than the heat exchange portion 40.

Note that the heat exchange portion 40 has such a structure that corrosion is reduced due to a sacrificial protection effect of the heat transfer fins 44 joined to the heat transfer pipes 43.

Moreover, in the present embodiment, it is configured such that the support bracket 50 and each member of the housing 20 are fixed to each other with the insulating member 80 being interposed therebetween. Thus, even in a case where, e.g., easily-corrosive aluminum alloy is used as a material of the support bracket 50 and, e.g., iron-based metal is used for the side plates of the housing 20, corrosion due to dissimilar metal contact can be suppressed. Consequently, reliability of the air conditioner S can be improved.

Note that FIGS. 4 to 6 illustrate the support bracket 50 arranged between the collecting header 41 a and the heat transfer fin 44. However, even in a case where the support bracket 50 is arranged between the turnaround header 41 b and the heat transfer fin 44 as illustrated in FIG. 2, similar features and advantageous effects can be provided.

Moreover, in the present embodiment, the upstream holding piece 53 and the downstream holding piece 54 forming the housing side holding portion of the support bracket 50 are arranged substantially parallel to each other, but are not limited to such a form. As long as the downstream holding piece 54 is in a shape fixable in accordance with the shape of the partition plate 26, similar features and advantageous effects can be provided.

In the present embodiment, the case where the present disclosure is applied to the outdoor device 1 including the outdoor heat exchanger 8 in such a form that the heat transfer pipes 43 penetrate the stacked flat plate-shaped heat transfer fins 44 has been described, but the present disclosure is not limited to holding of the heat exchanger in such a form.

For example, even in a case where a so-called corrugated fin heat exchanger (not shown) configured such that a corrugated heat transfer fin is placed between adjacent ones of heat transfer pipes arranged in parallel is held in a housing, the support bracket 50 of the present embodiment is applicable. Moreover, even in a case where the support bracket 50 is applied to a corrugated heat exchanger, features and advantageous effects similar to those of the present embodiment can be also provided.

Second Embodiment

Next, an air conditioner S of a second embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. 7. The same reference numerals are used to represent configurations similar to those of the first embodiment, and detailed description will be omitted.

A great difference from the first embodiment is a support bracket 50A. Configurations of an outdoor heat exchanger 8 and a housing 20 are similar to those of the first embodiment.

As illustrated in FIG. 7, the support bracket 50A has the same substantially backwards C-shaped sectional shape as that of the support bracket 50 of the first embodiment, but is different in a direction upon attachment to the outdoor heat exchanger 8.

That is, the support bracket 50A is configured such that a heat exchange side holding portion 51 is arranged in contact with a header pipe assembly 41 and a housing side holding portion 52 extends from a header pipe assembly 41 side to a heat transfer fin 44 side. Moreover, the support bracket 50A is arranged such that the backwards C-shape thereof opens to a heat exchange portion 40 (heat transfer fin 44) side.

Moreover, a tip end portion of an upstream holding piece 53A forming the housing side holding portion 52 contacts a heat transfer fin 44 (closest to the header pipe assembly 41) positioned outermost and forming an edge portion 40 a of a heat exchange portion 40 adjacent to the header pipe assembly 41.

That is, the tip end portion of the upstream holding piece 53A is set as a fin contact portion 55A.

Moreover, the heat exchange side holding portion 51 is configured such that pipe holes 56 are each fixed to the outer peripheries of heat transfer pipes 43 by brazing and are also fixed to the header pipe assembly 41 by brazing.

With this configuration, the heat exchange side holding portion 51 is brazed to the header pipe assembly 41, so that a load on the heat transfer pipes 43 due to, e.g., vibration of a compressor 6 upon operation of the air conditioner S can be dispersed to the header pipe assembly 41.

Thus, the load on the heat transfer pipes 43 can be reduced, and long-term reliability of the heat transfer pipe 43 can be improved.

Note that it may be configured such that brazing of the heat exchange side holding portion 51 does not include brazing between the pipe hole 56 and the heat transfer pipe 43, but includes only brazing to the header pipe assembly 41.

First Aspect of Second Embodiment

Next, a first aspect of the support bracket in the second embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. 8.

A difference from the second embodiment as described above is the form of a fin contact portion 55Aa forming a support bracket 50Aa of the present aspect.

Note that the configurations of the outdoor heat exchanger 8 and the housing 20 are similar to those of the first embodiment.

The fin contact portion 55Aa of the present aspect has a flat plate shape, and extends from a tip end of an upstream holding piece 53Aa to a downstream side in an air flow direction until reaching a near side of the heat transfer pipe 43.

Moreover, the fin contact portion 55Aa is, by brazing, joined to the heat transfer fin 44 positioned outermost and forming the edge portion 40 a.

That is, in the present aspect, the fin contact portion 55Aa and the heat transfer fin 44 are joined to each other by brazing, and joint between the header pipe assembly 41 and the heat transfer pipe 43 and joint between the heat transfer fin 44 and the heat transfer pipe 43 are performed as in the first embodiment.

As in the present aspect, the support bracket 50Aa is configured such that the fin contact portion 55Aa is joined to the heat transfer fin 44 positioned outermost and forming the edge portion 40 a, and therefore, air flowing between the header pipe assembly 41 and the heat transfer fin 44 can be blocked.

With this configuration, air flowing into the heat exchange portion 40 increases, and therefore, a heat exchange efficiency can be improved.

Moreover, when the outdoor heat exchanger 8 is assembled, the heat transfer pipes 43, the heat transfer fins 44, and the header pipe assembly 41 are assembled such that the fin contact portion 55Aa contacts the outermost heat transfer fin 44 and the heat exchange side holding portion 51 contacts the header pipe assembly 41. In this manner, the position of each member is determined. That is, a spacing between the header pipe assembly 41 and the heat transfer fin 44 and dimensions for insertion of the heat transfer pipes 43 into the header pipe assembly 41 can be defined by position determination as described above.

Thus, the step of manufacturing the outdoor heat exchanger 8 can be simplified.

Second Aspect of Second Embodiment

Next, a second aspect of the support bracket in the second embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. 9.

A difference from the second embodiment is, as in the first aspect, the form of a fin contact portion 55Ab forming a support bracket 50Ab.

The fin contact portion 55Ab of the present aspect is in such a form that the fin contact portion 55Aa of the first aspect further extends downward in the air flow direction, and is connected to a tip end of a downstream holding piece 54.

That is, the support bracket 50Ab has a substantially rectangular sectional shape (a box shape).

Note that the fin contact portion 55Ab is, with a spacing corresponding to a spacing between adjacent ones of the heat transfer fins 44, arranged in proximity to the heat transfer fin 44 positioned outermost and forming the edge portion 40 a, and, e.g., joint by brazing is not performed.

As in the present aspect, the section of the support bracket 50Ab is in the box shape, so that stability upon installation of the outdoor heat exchanger 8 on a bottom plate 21 of the housing 20 can be improved in addition to the above-described advantageous effects.

Third Embodiment

Next, an air conditioner S of a third embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. 10. The same reference numerals are used to represent configurations similar to those of the first embodiment, and detailed description will be omitted.

A great difference from the first embodiment is configurations of an outdoor heat exchanger 8B and a support bracket 50B.

A configuration of a housing 20 is similar to that of the first embodiment.

In the present embodiment, the outdoor heat exchanger 8B includes two heat exchangers 8F, 8R.

Each portion of two heat exchangers 8F, 8R is set to the same dimensions, and are arranged to overlap with each other as if a single heat exchanger is provided when a heat exchange portion 40 is viewed from the front.

That is, in the present embodiment, two heat exchangers 8F, 8R are placed to overlap with each other in an air flow direction.

Moreover, the support bracket 50B of the present embodiment is supported in the housing 20 while integrally holding these two heat exchangers 8F, 8R.

As in the first embodiment, the support bracket 50B of the present embodiment has a substantially backwards C-shaped sectional shape including a flat plate-shaped heat exchange side holding portion 51B and a housing side holding portion 52 extending from both edges of the heat exchange side holding portion 51B.

Moreover, the dimension of the heat exchange side holding portion 51B in the air flow direction is set about twice as large as that of the first embodiment, and heat transfer pipes 43 of both of two heat exchangers 8F, 8R arranged to overlap with each other penetrate the heat exchange side holding portion 51B and are brazed to the heat exchange side holding portion 51B.

As in the first embodiment, the support bracket 50B is configured such that the heat exchange side holding portion 51B is close to a heat transfer fin 44 side and the housing side holding portion 52 extends from the heat transfer fin 44 side to a header pipe assembly 41 side.

That is, the support bracket 50B is arranged such that the backwards C-shape thereof opens to the header pipe assembly 41 side. Moreover, the heat exchange side holding portion 51B also serves as a fin contact portion 55B.

With this configuration, air flowing between a header pipe assembly 41 and a heat transfer fin 44 can be blocked even in a case where multiple lines of the outdoor heat exchanger 8B are provided for improving performance of the air conditioner S.

Thus, air flowing into the heat exchange portion 40 increases, and therefore, a heat exchange efficiency can be improved.

Note that the support bracket 50B is not limited to the shape of the present embodiment. For example, the support bracket 50 of the first embodiment may be placed at each heat exchanger of the outdoor heat exchanger 8B, and adjacent housing side holding portions 52 may be joined to each other by, e.g., brazing afterward. With this configuration, a configuration in which two heat exchangers 8F, 8R are collectively supported can be employed.

In this case, a component can be shared with a different type of machine, and a manufacturing cost can be reduced.

First Aspect of Third Embodiment

Next, a first aspect of the support bracket in the third embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. 11.

A difference from the third embodiment is an installation form of two heat exchangers 8F, 8R forming an outdoor heat exchanger 8Ba.

Two heat exchangers 8F, 8R are similar to those of the third embodiment on a point that each portion of two heat exchangers 8F, 8R is set to the same dimensions.

However, two disposed heat exchangers 8F, 8R are sometimes purposefully shifted from each other in a longitudinal direction of a heat transfer pipe 43, considering, e.g., easy arrangement of a refrigerant pipe 3 connecting two heat exchangers 8F, 8R. In these cases, the disposed header pipe assemblies 41 are shifted from each other in the longitudinal direction of the heat transfer pipe 43.

A support bracket 50Ba of the present aspect is in a form when the disposed header pipe assemblies 41 are shifted from each other.

Two heat exchangers 8F, 8R are arranged such that two header pipe assemblies 41 are shifted from each other in the longitudinal direction of the heat transfer pipe 43. Thus, the heat transfer fins 44 positioned outermost and forming edge portions 40 a are arranged at different levels. Thus, a heat exchange side holding portion 51Ba of the present aspect is formed in a shape bent in a staircase pattern along both outermost heat transfer fins 44.

Moreover, the heat exchange side holding portion 51Ba also serves as a fin contact portion 55Ba.

In the present aspect, the support bracket 50Ba is configured so that features and advantageous effects similar to those of the third embodiment can be provided and the degree of freedom in arrangement of the refrigerant pipe 3 connecting two heat exchangers 8F, 8R can be increased.

Second Aspect of Third Embodiment

Next, a second aspect of the support bracket in the third embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. 12.

A difference from the first aspect of the third embodiment is that a support bracket 50Bb is divided into halves.

The present aspect is configured such that an upstream bracket 50F for the upstream heat exchanger 8F and a downstream bracket 50R for the downstream heat exchanger 8R are separately prepared and are joined to each other afterward to form the single support bracket 50Bb.

That is, a heat exchange side holding portion 51Bb is configured such that a heat exchange side holding portion 51F and a downstream holding piece 54F of the upstream bracket 50F and an upstream holding piece 53R and a heat exchange side holding portion 51R of the downstream bracket 50R form a staircase shape. Moreover, in the present aspect, the heat exchange side holding portion 51Bb also serves as a fin contact portion 55Bb.

Thus, the support bracket 50 of the first embodiment can be diverted to the downstream bracket 50R, for example.

Note that the installation form of two heat exchangers 8F, 8R is such a form that the header pipe assemblies 41 are shifted from each other in the longitudinal direction of the heat transfer pipe 43 as in the first aspect of the third embodiment.

In the present aspect, it is configured such that the support bracket 50Bb is divided. Thus, features and advantageous effects similar to those of the third embodiment can be provided, and the shapes of the upstream bracket 50F and the downstream bracket 50R can be simplified.

Thus, processing of the support bracket 50Bb is facilitated, and some simple combinations of the upstream bracket 50F and the downstream bracket 50R allow application to various arrangement patterns of the heat exchangers.

Consequently, a component can be shared with a different type of machine, and the manufacturing cost can be reduced.

The foregoing detailed description has been presented for the purposes of illustration and description. Many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teaching. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the subject matter described herein to the precise form disclosed. Although the subject matter has been described in language specific to structural features and/or methodological acts, it is to be understood that the subject matter defined in the appended claims is not necessarily limited to the specific features or acts described above. Rather, the specific features and acts described above are disclosed as example forms of implementing the claims appended hereto. 

What is claimed is:
 1. An outdoor device comprising: a heat exchanger including a heat exchange portion having multiple heat transfer pipes as flat pipes formed in a substantially oval sectional shape, arranged along a horizontal direction, and arranged substantially in parallel at a predetermined interval in an upper-to-lower direction, and multiple heat transfer fins joined to the heat transfer pipes, and a pair of header pipe assemblies arranged substantially in parallel along the upper-to-lower direction to face each other and configured to bundle end portions of the heat transfer pipes extending from the heat exchange portion; and a housing configured to support the heat exchanger via a support bracket, wherein the support bracket includes a heat exchange side holding portion which is positioned at a portion of each heat transfer pipe connecting the heat exchange portion and the header pipe assemblies and through which each heat transfer pipe penetrates, a housing side holding portion extending along a longitudinal direction of each heat transfer pipe from an upstream side edge of the heat exchange side holding portion positioned on an upstream side in a flow of air passing through the heat exchanger and fixed to the housing, and a fin contact portion provided integrally with the heat exchange side holding portion or the housing side holding portion and arranged in contact with or in proximity to an edge portion of the heat exchange portion adjacent to one of the header pipe assemblies.
 2. The outdoor device according to claim 1, wherein the heat transfer fins include multiple plate-shaped members stacked at a predetermined interval in the horizontal direction, the heat transfer pipes penetrate the heat transfer fins, and are joined to the heat transfer fins, and the fin contact portion is arranged in contact with or in proximity to an outermost one of the heat transfer fins forming the edge portion of the heat exchange portion.
 3. The outdoor device according to claim 1, wherein the support bracket is configured such that the heat exchange side holding portion is, as the fin contact portion, arranged in contact with or in proximity to the edge portion of the heat exchange portion, and the housing side holding portion extends from an heat exchange portion side to a header pipe assembly side.
 4. The outdoor device according to claim 1, wherein the support bracket is configured such that the heat exchange side holding portion is arranged in contact with or in proximity to one of the header pipe assemblies, and the housing side holding portion extends from a header pipe assembly side to an edge portion side of the heat exchange portion.
 5. The outdoor device according to claim 4, wherein the fin contact portion extends along the edge portion of the heat exchange portion from a tip end of the housing side holding portion.
 6. The outdoor device according to claim 4, wherein the heat exchange side holding portion is fixed to one of the header pipe assemblies.
 7. The outdoor device according to claim 1, wherein the heat exchange side holding portion is fixed to each heat transfer pipes.
 8. The outdoor device according to claim 1, wherein the housing side holding portion is fixed to the housing via an insulating member.
 9. An outdoor device comprising: a heat exchanger including multiple heat transfer pipes arranged next to each other, a pair of header pipe assemblies connected to both ends of each heat transfer pipe, and a heat transfer fin fixed to the heat transfer pipes; and a housing fixed to the heat exchanger via a support bracket, wherein the support bracket has a shape closing a portion between the heat exchange portion including the heat transfer pipes and the heat transfer fin and each header pipe assembly, and is configured to guide air flowing into the housing to a heat exchange portion side.
 10. A refrigeration cycle device comprising: the outdoor device according to claim 1; and an indoor device connected to the outdoor device via a refrigerant pipe. 